Weighted Tennis Ball

ABSTRACT

A tennis ball with weight material injected into its interior cavity for use in exercise and sport as a weight bearing device. The weight material adds weight to the tennis ball. The weight material completely or partially fills the interior cavity of the tennis ball. The weight of the tennis ball can be changed based on the amount and type of weight material inside the tennis ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of exercise and sport.More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field oftennis training. More particularly, the present invention is in thetechnical field of arm and hand exercises.

Weighted balls of various sizes, materials and weights have been usedfor centuries by people for performing exercises, gaining strength, andfor use in sports and sports training.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tennis ball filled with weight materialcomprised of a plurality of either metal balls, metal shot, metal grit,metal sand, metal powder, metal filings or a combination of saidmaterial. The advantage of the present invention allows the use of acommonly manufactured tennis ball to be transformed into a weightedball. The primary purpose is for using one or more weighted tennis ballsas an exercise tool. Weighted objects provide resistance to buildstrength and coordination. The tennis ball in of itself is useful forthis purpose as the felt-like exterior of the tennis ball providessurface texture and the rubber interior shell provides flex. Oneweighted tennis ball tossed up into the air, like one would do whileserving in a game of tennis, will build strength and coordination forthat movement. Two weighted tennis balls held in one hand and rotated bythe fingers will build hand and forearm strength. The Intended use ofthe present invention can vary from person to person.

Besides creating a tennis ball with increased weight, the utility ofinjecting loose weight material like metal balls, metal shot, metalgrit, metal sand, metal powder, metal filings or a combination of saidmaterial into the tennis ball cavity will also provide the benefit ofallowing the tennis ball to give slightly under pressure. A tennis ballfilled with a solid (non-rubberized) substance will not give as muchunder pressure when completely filled. Since a tennis ball is naturallyflexible, the injection of loose material, as opposed to a solid core,will maintain that flexibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a tennis ball being filled with weightmaterial comprised of metal balls. A tube is inserted into an opening ofthe tennis ball.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the present invention. It shows a crosssection of a tennis ball filled with weight material comprised of metalballs.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the present invention. It shows a crosssection of a tennis ball filled with weight material comprised of metalballs. The metal balls are smaller then the balls in FIG. 2. Thisillustrates how weight material of different sizes can be inserted intoa tennis ball.

FIG. 4 is an exterior view of the present invention with a section ofthe tennis ball cut out to expose the interior containing weightmaterial comprised of small metal balls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, a weighted tennis ball iscomprised of a tennis ball with weight material injected into it. Weightmaterial can be comprised of a plurality of either metal balls, metalshot, metal grit, metal sand, metal powder, metal filings or acombination of said material. The weight material can vary in size andshape. The weight material does not have to be perfectly round. Theweight material can be irregularly shaped (similar to sand). FIG. 1shows an example of a tennis ball 10 being filled with weight materialcomprised of metal balls 12 of about 4.5 millimeters (0.18 inches) indiameter. The way to fill the tennis ball can vary. The simplest conceptinvolves making a small slit into the tennis ball's shell 14, and theninjecting the weight material into the cavity via a tube 11. Once filledthe filling tube is removed and the slit is sealed with glue. FIG. 2shows a cross section of a tennis ball 10 completely filled with themetal balls 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, if a tennis ball 10 is filled with steel balls 12 itwill weigh about 0.45 kilograms (one pound). The overall weight can beslightly more or less depending on the variances of the tennis ball'sinterior volume, variances with the size of the weight material, andwith the composition of the weight material. A tennis ball's interiorvolume space will vary due to the manufacturing process and due to thesource manufacturer of the tennis ball. The overall weight of acompletely filled tennis ball will be slightly higher with smaller sizedweight material than with larger sized weight material. FIG. 3 shows across section of a tennis ball 10 with smaller metal balls 12 inside itthan the tennis ball 10 that is illustrated in FIG. 2. Smaller diametermetal balls 12 will have less air space 14 between them. Larger weightmaterial, such as metal balls larger than 5 millimeters (0.12 inches) indiameter, can be injected into a tennis ball. However, the size of theweight material will affect how easy or difficult it is to insert theweight material into a tennis ball. The use of weight material largerthe 5 millimeters (0.12 inches) in diameter or length may make thetennis ball 10 more difficult to fill. It is up to the manufacturer ofthe weighted tennis ball to decide about what type of weight material touse and what its dimensions should be.

As shown in FIG. 2, when filling the tennis ball 10 with weightmaterial, such as metal balls 12, the weight material is injected intothe tennis ball 10 until the weight material is touching, or very closeto touching, the upper interior surface 13 of the tennis ball 10 nearthe injection point. Ideally, the weight material should not be jammedin. There should be slight movement. This will enable the tennis ball 10to compress slightly. FIG. 4 shows an exterior view of a weighted tennisball 10 with a cut out exposing metal balls 12 inside the tennis ball10. A tennis ball can also be filled with varying amounts of weightmaterial to change the weight of the ball. If a tennis ball is filledhalf way, then the overall weight of the tennis ball would be close tohalf as much weight as a completely filled tennis ball.

Weight material can be composed of various grades of steel, steelalloys, iron, or from various other metals such as zinc, copper, etc.The metals can be coated with other metals or uncoated (steel balls areoften coated with zinc or copper). Which metal type used would be basedon price, availability, the desired weight, and even toxicity? Althoughlead has a high weight to volume ratio, the use of lead, or other toxicmetals, is not recommended due to health concerns.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that inserting weight material into atennis ball will enable the user of said weighted tennis ball to use theweighted tennis ball to perform exercises where weight is of benefit.The tennis ball in of itself is useful for this purpose as the felt-likeexterior of the tennis ball provides surface texture and the rubberinterior shell provides flex which may be of benefit to user.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A weighted tennis ball that is comprised of a rubber coreand a felt cover surrounding the core with weight material injected intothe interior cavity of the ball.
 2. The tennis ball of claim 1 in whichthe weight material is comprised of a plurality of either metal balls,metal shot, metal grit, metal sand, metal powder, metal filings or acombination of said material.
 3. The tennis ball of claim 1 in which theweight material is injected into the ball to completely fill theinterior cavity.
 4. The tennis ball of claim 1 in which the weightmaterial is injected into the ball but not to completely fill theinterior cavity.
 5. The tennis ball of claim 1 where the weight materialis made from iron or steel.
 6. The tennis ball of claim 1 where theweight material is made from iron or steel that is coated with anothermetal or material that is not iron or steel.
 7. The tennis ball of claim1 where the weight material is not made from iron or steel.
 8. Thetennis ball of claim 1 where the weight material is made of alloys ofvarious metals.
 9. The tennis ball of claim 2 in which the size of theballs, shot, grit, or sand can vary. There is no fixed size.
 10. Thetennis ball of claim 2 in which the shape of the balls, shot, grit, orsand can vary. There is no fixed shape.